I brought Lennon to work last Sunday. He wouldn’t let go of his mother just as we were leaving for work so we had to bring him with us. His older brother, who says he cannot sleep without him at his side and vice versa, agreed when we explained we couldn’t take him with us because he had to wake up early the next day to make it to class on time.

The newsroom is a child-friendly environment to work in. Editors and reporters, at times, take their kids to work, especially during weekends. The newsroom also schedules an annual party for its employee’s children.

Lennon listens to Dora the Explorer

Lennon, however, is less of a newsroom baby than Dylan, who practically grew up in one. When I was still with the Independent Post, Marlen and I brought Dylan to work everyday. He grew up talking to a motley crew of writers, artists and techies who never baby-talked him. Maybe that’s how he learned to talk early.

Once, when we still lived in Cebu City, I saw him talking to our neighbor, an elderly pastor, for more than an hour. Dylan was sitting on the pastor’s rocking chair during the conversation and you’d swear they’d paint a picture of two old friends reminiscing old times.